There have been 21 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today – 20 in Auckland and one in Wellington.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins are giving the latest Covid-19 update.
Watch it live here:
Dr Bloomfield said there were now a total of 72 cases associated with the Auckland outbreak.
He said there are 8677 contacts that have been formally identified and virtually all of those are considered ‘close contacts’.
Hipkins said yesterday was a record day for weekend vaccinations with more than 50,000 doses administered.
Hipkins said more than a million NZers were now vaccinared and 73 percent of New Zealanders over the age of 40 are either vaccinated or booked in to get the jab.
Another 382,500 doses of the Pfizer Vaccine will arrive in New Zealand tomorrow, Hipkins said.
Meanwhile, a staff member at Pukekohe High School has tested positive for Covid-19 meaning seven Auckland schools now have confirmed cases linked to them. The other five schools are: Western Springs College, Avondale College, Northcote College, Lynfield College, McAuley High School and De La Salle College.
After being halted at the start of lockdown, the vaccine rollout is moving up a gear with 56,843 vaccines administered yesterday – the most in a single day.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said 72 percent of NZers aged 40+ are either booked or have been vaccinated with at least one dose.
A drive through mass-vaccination centre is open today in Auckland to make up for appointments pushed out due to the alert level 4 lockdown. The centre, set up at the park and ride site at Auckland Airport, will be open for a week and is expected to immunise 2000 people a day.
Ten people are dying from Covid-19 daily in Fiji with the west now surpassing the central division where the outbreak is centred.
Photo: Fiji govt
In its latest update, the government said the country has a seven-day rolling average of 10 Covid deaths per day, with six in the west and four in the central division.
Health Secretary Doctor James Fong said the country is averaging 1462 new cases and 10 deaths per day over the last week.
The death toll is at 433, with 431 of them from this latest outbreak that began in April this year.
He said 230 positive patients, who died from serious medical conditions they had before contracting Covid-19, were not classified as dying from the virus.
Dr Fong also confirmed 198 new cases and one death reported for the 24 hours to 8am on Saturday.
That’s compared with 485 cases and 11 deaths in the previous 24 hours.
Dr Fong said 516 people had recovered since Friday’s update and there were now 20,271 active cases in isolation.
Of the latest cases, 52 were reported from the western division and 146 from the central division.
Dr Fong said the lone death was reported in the eastern division.
He said the death was investigated and determined to be a Covid death.
“A 63-year-old woman from Rakiraki Village in Yale, Kadavu, was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Vunisea Hospital on Monday, 16 August 16.
“Her family reported that she had symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness of breath,” Dr Fong said.
“She was swabbed as per protocol and tested positive for Covid-19 (on Tuesday, August 17.”
Photo: Fiji govt
Dr Fong said there had been two more deaths of positive patients, however, they were classified as non-covid related by their doctors.
Of the 20,271 active cases, 11,684 were in the Central Division; 8540 in the West; one in the North (Nabouwalu); and 46 active cases in the Eastern Division (Kadavu).
Dr Fong said they were reviewing and reconciling the active case database with recoveries, and the numbers are expected to increase in the coming weeks.
There are 322 covid patients in hospital – 118 of them are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, 38 at the FEMAT field hospital, and 166 are admitted at the Colonial War Memorial, St Giles and Makoi hospitals.
Thirty-seven patients are considered to be in a severe condition, while 14 are critical, Dr Fong said.
There have been 43,224 cases recorded during the outbreak that started in April, 2021; and 43,294 cases recorded in the country since the first case was reported in March 2020; and 22,341 recoveries.
Meanwhile, business communities want restricted movement imposed after reports the virus had reached the country’s second largest island of Vanua Levu in the North.
Three cases were confirmed there with one from Nabouwalu in the Bua Province and two quarantine cases in Labasa.
Members of the Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Savusavu Chamber of Commerce are pleading with the Government to impose restrictions in affected areas to contain the spread of the virus.
Labasa Chamber president Satish Kumar told the Fiji Times the restricted movement should be emphasised in Bua to prevent the illness from spreading.
“This is really important because we can’t afford to be careless as everyone’s already affected and that is why restricted movement is imperative,” Kumar said.
“We have advised our members to lift their precaution measures in shops to another level to protect themselves.”
Savusavu Chamber president Ravi Chhaganlal also told the newspaper they worked closely with front-line workers and had advised their members to be vigilant.
“Restricted movement should be imposed and we have reminded our members to increase visibility in their shops to ensure that customers adhere to advice.”
As of 19 August, 541,611 people have received their first dose of the vaccine and 228,799 have got both jabs.
Dr Fong said this means that 92.3 percent of the target population had received at least one dose and 39 percent were fully vaccinated.
Four suspects who allegedly defrauded members of the Tongan community of hundreds of thousands of dollars are expected to appear in the Auckland Disputes Tribunal on September 10.
(L-R) Tia Fine, Petisi Fonua, Sophie Malia Tonga Tea Talakai and ‘Ofa Tu’ineau Tu’ipulotu
The accused are ‘Ofa Tu’ineau Tu’ipulotu, Tia Fine, Sophie Malia Tonga Tea Talakai and Petisi Fonua, according to court documents seen by Kaniva Tonga News.
They operate the Virtuous Limited company previously registered as Dosis Limited based in Manurewa.
Fine is listed on Companies Office website as the group’s director and shareholder.
The court case stemmed from a complaint made by Pisila Faanunu. Faanunu claimed she has invested NZ$22,800 in the company after it was promoted if people put significant amounts of money into their scheme they will receive a big payday.
Faanunu told Kaniva News this morning she has only received false promises from the company and the investment never materialised.
Faanunu said she wanted the tribunal to order the accused to pay back her money.
Talakai was contacted for comment.
Kaniva News understands, more people have filed complaints with the disputes tribunal in relation to the accused and other scheme groups.
In a report by One News this week, Pacific Correspondent Barbara Deaver said there are at least 18 pyramid schemes operating.
“Thousands of Tongans in Auckland have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to these schemes including Tongi Tupe Nu’usila which is headed by Ofa Siasau who runs it from her Otara-based Alfa Shipping company, of which she is a director,” One News said.
It is understood Tongi Tupe headquarter in the US, operated by self-styled CEO Tilila Siola’a Schumchai has collapsed owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to its investors.
New Zealand Commerce Commission is investigating the illegal schemes. It has published the following information on its website:
What is a pyramid scheme?
A pyramid scheme can take many forms, but has the following essential elements:
it offers a financial return based on the payments made by new recruits
the return is dependent primarily on the continued recruitment of new members, not sales of a product or service
the primary motivation of many participants is the opportunity to make money by recruiting others.
Pyramid selling schemes may involve ‘gimmick’ products (for example certificates) or overpriced products or services that have little or no resale value and are not likely to be purchased again (for example personal development programmes or general financial information).
Example: Three businessmen promoted a ‘get rich quick’ scheme. Prospective members were told that the potential return was “huge” – at least US$10,000 in 90 days, with a “minimum potential income” of US$160,000. This as a pyramid scheme as the only way members could make money was by recruiting new participants. If no new members were recruited, no money was made. Three people that promoted the scheme were convicted, fined and ordered to pay reparation to their victims.
The woman accused of having ties to ISIS, Suhayra Aden, has arrived in New Zealand today, 1 NEWS understands.
Suhayra Aden (right). Source: 1 NEWS
It is understood she was accompanied by police on the flight that touched down in New Zealand this morning.
Exclusive pictures show the plane that brought Aden back to New Zealand landing this morning.
In a statement, police told 1 NEWS it was “one of a number of government agencies that have been working for some time on a plan for the family’s return”.
“As this is an operational matter, police will not comment on the timings or arrangements for their return.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the time Turkey had asked New Zealand to repatriate Suhayra Aden and her two children, who were held in Turkey since crossing over from Syria earlier this year.
Ardern said it had been made “clear that any New Zealander who might be suspected of association with a terrorist group should expect to be investigated under New Zealand law”.
When asked today, Ardern said she would not comment publicly on the specific case, but said they have “planned for it, we’re ready for it and we’re keeping in mind there are children involved”.
“Whilst we have obligations, given this individual is a New Zealand citizen and the status of their children, we have still undertaken all the usual steps you would expect us to take to keep New Zealanders safe.
“We are using all the levers we have to make sure that we’ve done everything we can to keep people safe.”
Police confirmed in July an investigation was underway but would not comment further on the situation.
Aden moved from New Zealand to Australia at age six, where she also became a citizen. She then left on her Australian passport and travelled to Syria in 2014.
In February, the situation developed into a high profile spat with Australia after it was discovered the country scrapped her once dual citizenship, leaving her with sole New Zealand citizenship.
Jacinda Ardern called it “wrong that New Zealand should shoulder the responsibility for a situation involving a woman who has not lived in New Zealand since she was six, has resided in Australia since that time, has her family in Australia and left for Syria from Australia on her Australian passport”.
There have been 21 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay are now giving an update on the Covid-19 situation.
Watch it live here:
Three of the new cases are in Wellington, while the rest are in Auckland. There are also three new Covid-19 cases to report in recent returnees today.
Dr McElnay said the total number of community cases linked to the current Auckland outbreak are 51.
All cases have been or are being transferred to managed isolation facilities using strict infection prevention and control procedures, McElnay said.
More than 5000 individual contacts have been identified and the Health Ministry expects that will grow and increase by another 5000 by the end of today.
She said public health staff are rapidly interviewing cases to find out how they were infected and to determine further details of their movements.
She said 829 Waitemata health staff had been tested and all resultsso far were negative ,with 208 results pending. All patients from affected areas have returned negative tests.
ESR have completed genome equencing for 29 cases – including the three announced in Wellington yesterday and they are all linked to the Auckland cluster, McElnay says.
Dr McElnay said there had also been Covid-19 found in wasterwater testing in Warkworth, north of Auckland.
Despite the rise in numbers, Ardern said there was some good news with New Zealand hitting two records yesterday, with the most number of vaccines and tests carried out.
There were 56,843 vaccines administered yesterday – the most in a single day. Ardern said 72 percent of NZers aged 40+ are either booked or have been vaccinated with at least one dose.
“This is great progress,” Ardern said.
More than 150,000 vaccination booking were made yesterday.
Yesterday was also the day the most Covid-19 tests were processed in a single day, with 41,464 tests completed.
“The fact we have achieved both these results on the same day is extraordinary and is exactly what we need to do to get on top of the outbreak and for the future.”
There are 14 community testing stations open across Auckland today, Ardern said.
Since then, new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed at the University of Auckland and two more Auckland schools. In addition, the list of locations of interest has been growing.
Follow our live blog for more updates as they happen today.
Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay is giving a Covid-19 update with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone
This story by Kalino Lātū was first published by Te Waha Nui
A Tongan family has been allowed to stay in New Zealand after a tribunal overturned an Immigration New Zealand ruling that their father’s death meant they had to leave.
‘Alaimoana Tautua’ā and her five children had been told their application for a residency visa had been declined because ‘Alaimoana no longer had a partner to support her.
‘Alaimoana and her late husband, along with their two youngest children, arrived in New Zealand in 2016. The rest of the family arrived later.
Their five children, aged between 12 and 21, were all born in Tonga.
‘Alaimoana’s husband, ‘Ahoia Tautua’ā, was buried in Auckland in 2019 after dying of kidney failure.
With her Essential Skills work visa due to expire on December 14, ‘Alaimoana sought the help of a Tongan immigration consultant to challenge Immigration New Zealand’s decision.
When deciding the family’s appeal, the Immigration and Protection Tribunal found the Tautua’ā family had special circumstances allowing them to stay in New Zealand.
In its decision the tribnal said: “The Tribunal finds that, considered individually and cumulatively, the appellant’s and her children’s circumstances are special such as to warrant a recommendation to the Minister of Immigration for consideration of an exception to Government residence instructions. The Tribunal refers in particular to the best interests of the youngest two children and the interests of family unity.”
A psychological report submitted to support the family’s application, seen by Te Waha Nui, said if the family were sent back to Tonga they would face “psychological vulnerability”.
The tribunal asked the Minister of Immigration to consider granting them a residence class visa, “as an exception to residence instructions”.
The family said prayer, determination and perseverance led to the turnaround.
‘Alaimoana said it was a challenging journey, but she was determined not to give up.
She said she appreciated her immigration consultant’s unreserved commitment.
“I wish the whole world is mine so I can give it to him,” she told TWN.
“We prayed and prayed and I trusted God would never leave me and my family alone.”
Immigration consultant Koli Vanisi, of the Pacific Immigration Consultancy, said the case was one of the most difficult he had worked on.
“It just because there was nothing really concrete in their circumstances for me to make a stand against the immigration decision,” he said.
He said it involved a lot of research about the United Nations law and how it could be used as a weapon to challenge the New Zealand immigration policy and regulations.
Another Auckland school has been hit with a Covid-19 scare after students attended a ballet performance at a location of interest.
Redoubt North School in Clover Park, Auckland. Source: Google Maps
Redoubt North School notified parents Friday night after their year seven pupils came into contact with a positive case at the Royal New Zealand Ballet The Firebird performance at Aotea Centre.
“It has come to our attention that our year seven students attended the ballet on Friday the 13th August at a time now identified as a place of interest,” the school said.
The year seven pupils, along with anyone else who attended, is needing to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested as they are deemed close contacts.
Redoubt North School joins a growing list of Auckland schools coming in to contact with the Delta variant.
On Friday night, two Catholic schools, De La Salle College in Māngere and McAuley High School in Ōtāhuhu were added to the list.
Find out more about latest locations of interest on the Ministry of Health’s websitehere.
The New Zealand Government says it remains concerned by the ongoing management and governance challenges at the University of the South Pacific.
This week the Fijian Government announced it wouldn’t pay its multi-million grant to the university while the current vice chancellor Pal Ahluwalia remained at his post.
USP vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia speaking at a university open day. Photo: USP
It has called for another investigation after an earlier one revealed significant abuses by the former Vice Chancellor, Rajesh Chandra, who is believed to have close links with the Fiji Government.
The Fiji Government earlier this year deported Professor Ahluwalia and his wife, after accusing them of immigration breaches.
But the USP governing Council headed by Nauru President, Lionel Aingamea, renewed his contract, and the professor is to work out of the Samoa campus.
New Zealand said it respects the collective decision of the Council and said it will continue to work with all stakeholders to find a solution that is in the best interests of students.
New Zealand and Australia give significant financial backing to the university which is owned by 12 Pacific Island states.
Long time USP academic, Professor VijayNaidu, said while Fiji pays the most in grant money, it is also the main beneficiary of the institution.
He said without the Fiji funding the university will struggle, “the university will survive until the end of this year, but looking beyond that they will obviously be looking to find other sources of funding. And given the fact that the GDPs of Pacific Island countries and the per capita income of the region is relatively low this would be a difficult challenge.”
A student resident at Auckland University has tested positive for Covid-19 after attending two days of classes.
The University of Auckland. Photo/Kalino Lātū
An email was sent by the university saying the student was a resident in Whitaker Block and takes meals in Waipārūrū Hall. They attended classes on Monday 16 August and Tuesday 17 August.
They then travelled to Wellington on Thursday where they are isolating with family after receiving the positive test on Friday.
Earlier, A medical centre in South Auckland has been added to Auckland’s Covid locations of interest.
A case visited The Local Doctors GP Practice in Ōtara on Tuesday 17 August between 4.21pm and 8.30pm. Those who visited the clinic at the time should isolate at home and get tested immediately and then on days five and 12 from exposure.
The addition is the latest to the list of over 150 locations and/or visits in Auckland.
Roughly a 1000 people, including Seven Sharp co-host Hilary Barry, are isolating and being tested after a bar worker at a large awards ceremony at Spark Arena last Thursday later tested positive for Covid-19. That event is yet to be added to the official locations of interest.
A case also attended the Bayleys awards dinner on Friday night at the same venue from 10am through 10pm.
